Orientation pins for device using radial ultrasound

Abstract

A system for determining orientation of a distal end of a catheter. The system includes a radial ultrasound system configured to generate images based on data received from a radial ultrasound probe. The system also includes a display device to present the generated images, a medical device, and a catheter system. The catheter system includes a flexible shaft having a first lumen configured to receive the radial ultrasound probe and a second lumen configured to receive the medical device, a cap portion having a longitudinal axis, and at least one orientation pin. The cap portion includes a third lumen configured to align with the first lumen, a fourth lumen configured to align with the second lumen, an exit port, and a ramp disposed between the fourth lumen and the exit port.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter device comprising:
 a flexible shaft; 
 a first lumen within the flexible shaft, the first lumen adapted to receive an imaging probe; 
 a second lumen within the flexible shaft, the second lumen including an exit port formed in a sidewall adjacent a distal end and a ramp forming the distal end of the second lumen, the ramp configured to cause a needle to extend off-axis from a portion of the catheter device that is adjacent to the exit port; and 
 at least one echogenic orientation pin positioned adjacent to a distal end of the first lumen and aligned relative to the exit port to provide rotational orientation information about the exit port within images generated by the imaging probe; wherein at least a portion of the first lumen, the imaging probe, and the at least one echogenic orientation pin intersect a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the flexible shaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one echogenic orientation pin comprises two echogenic orientation pins. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the two echogenic orientation pins include longitudinal axes that are positioned in lateral alignment along the longitudinal axis with as the exit port. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen is configured to receive an ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second lumen is configured to receive a medical device. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a distal portion of the flexible shaft comprises one or more materials that are permeable to ultrasound signals. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one echogenic orientation pin comprises one or more materials that are non-permeable to ultrasound signals. 
     
     
       8. A system comprising:
 an ultrasound probe, and 
 a signal processor configured to be in data communication with the ultrasound probe and generate one or more images based on data received from the ultrasound probe; 
 a display device configured to present the generated one or more images; 
 a medical device; and 
 a catheter system comprising: 
 a flexible shaft; 
 a first lumen within the flexible shaft and adapted to receive an imaging probe; 
 a second lumen within the flexible shaft and including an exit port formed in a sidewall adjacent a distal end and a ramp forming the distal end of the second lumen, the ramp configured to cause a needle to extend off-axis from a portion of the second lumen that is adjacent to the exit port; and 
 at least one echogenic orientation pin positioned adjacent to a distal end of the first lumen and aligned relative to the exit port to provide rotational orientation information about the exit port within images generated by the imaging probe; 
 wherein at least a portion of the first lumen, the imaging probe, and the at least one echogenic orientation pin intersect a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the flexible shaft. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one echogenic orientation pin comprises two echogenic orientation pins. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the two echogenic orientation pins include longitudinal axes that are positioned in lateral alignment along the longitudinal axis with as the exit port. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least a distal portion of the flexible shaft comprises one or more materials that are permeable to ultrasound signals. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one echogenic orientation pin comprises one or more materials that are non-permeable to ultrasound signals. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the generated one or more images are configured to include:
 an ultrasound shadow image related to the at least one echogenic orientation pin; 
 an image feature responsive to a distal end of the medical device being disposed distal from the exit port, 
 wherein the ultrasound shadow image and the image feature are disposed on same half of the generated one or more images. 
 
     
     
       14. A method comprising:
 providing a flexible shaft having a first lumen, a second lumen including an exit port formed in a sidewall adjacent a distal end of the flexible shaft and a ramp forming the distal end of the second lumen, the ramp configured to cause a needle to extend off-axis from a portion of the second lumen that is adjacent to the exit port, and at least one echogenic orientation pin positioned adjacent to a distal end of the first lumen; 
 inserting an imaging probe into the first lumen; and 
 generating an image of a target tissue using the imaging probe, the image including a shadow produced by the at least one echogenic orientation pin; 
 wherein at least a portion of the first lumen, the imaging probe, and the at least one echogenic orientation pin intersect a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, and wherein the at least one echogenic orientation pin is positioned adjacent to a distal end of the first lumen and aligned relative to the exit port to provide rotational orientation information about the exit port within images generated by the imaging probe. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein providing the at least one echogenic orientation pin comprises providing two echogenic orientation pins. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein attaching further comprises positioning longitudinal axes of the two echogenic orientation pins on the same half of a cap portion as the exit port. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising slidably receiving a medical device in the second lumen and extending the medical device out of the exit port via the ramp. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the generating the image includes imaging a distal end of the medical device extending out of the exit port. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein providing the flexible shaft includes forming a distal portion of one or more materials that are permeable to ultrasound signals. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing the at least one echogenic orientation pin comprises forming the at least one echogenic orientation pin of one or more materials that are non-permeable to ultrasound signals.